Stroke Health Center

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Your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove plaque buildup in the carotid arteries. A procedure called carotid artery stenting (CAS) is another option for some people who have blocked carotid arteries. For more information on surgery to prevent a stroke, see Surgery. For more information on CAS, see Other Treatment.

For more information on preventing a stroke, see Prevention.

Rehabilitation

Starting a rehabilitation (rehab) program as soon as possible after a stroke increases your chances of recovering some of the abilities you lost.

It is not possible to predict precisely how much physical ability you will regain. The more ability you retain immediately after a stroke, the more independent you are likely to be when you are discharged from the hospital. After a stroke:

• People usually show the greatest progress in being able to walk during the first 6 weeks. Most recovery occurs within the first 3 months. But you may continue to improve slowly over the next few years.
• Speech, balance, and skills needed for day-to-day living return more slowly and may continue to improve for up to a year.
• About half of the people who suffer a stroke have problems with coordination, communication, judgment, or behavior that affect their work and personal relationships.

Your rehab will be based on the physical abilities that were lost, your general health before the stroke, and your ability to participate. Rehab begins with helping you resume activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, and dressing. For more information, see the topic Stroke Rehabilitation.

What To Think About

After a person has had a stroke, family members can learn ways to provide support and encouragement to their loved one.

If you get worse, your loved one may need to move you to a care facility that can meet your needs, especially if your caregiver has his or her own health problems that make it difficult to properly care for you. It is common for caregivers to neglect their own health when they are caring for a loved one who has had a stroke. If your caregiver's health declines, the risk of injury to you and your caregiver may increase. For more information, see:

Stroke: Should I Move My Loved One Into Long-Term Care?